The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered a cocaine shipment worth N29.4 billion at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos, marking one of the agency’s largest drug seizures in recent years.
Okay News reports that the interception was made after terminal operators raised concerns about a suspicious container during a disinfection exercise on October 7. The container, marked GCNU1332851, had arrived from Freetown, Sierra Leone, and was listed as empty, which made its discovery even more unusual.
Controller of the PTML Command, Comptroller Joe Anani, said during a press briefing that a joint security inspection revealed 50 sealed packages containing 20 parcels of cocaine each. The substance was later confirmed to weigh one metric tonne, with a street value of N29.4 billion.
“This is one of the most mysterious cocaine interceptions in the history of the Service,” Anani stated. He explained that the shipment had no identifiable owner, which has made the investigation more complex.
Customs officers worked with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Services, Police Anti-Bomb Squad, and other agencies to secure the discovery. Anani praised the level of coordination among security bodies, noting that such collaboration was key to the successful seizure.
He also commended the terminal operator for promptly alerting authorities. “This seizure shows the importance of vigilance and the cooperation we have built with terminal operators and other security agencies,” he said.
The consignment will be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation. Anani reaffirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s ports and preventing the entry or export of illegal goods.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has also directed tighter monitoring of port operations to block criminal activities.
The seizure follows another operation in September at Tin Can Island Port, where officers found drugs worth N5.3 billion concealed in imported vehicles.
